Top 10 Health Benefits of Eating Chia Seeds

Chia seeds are an excellent natural supplement that can be used to add a great deal of nutritional value to your meals. These seeds are actually a tiny little super food and are an excellent source of omega 3 essential fatty acids and fiber of course. These seeds are derived from a native Mexican plant and are related to the mint family of plants. History shows that this plant was an essential crop of the Aztecs and has remained in regular use in South America.

The thing is that chia seeds have gone largely unnoticed until a researcher in North America named Wayne Coates started to study the chia plant as a crop for northern Argentina Farmers 29 years ago. Coates has been studying the chia plant since 1991 and has started to advocate the health benefits of eating chia seeds. The seeds themselves can be white, black or dark brown and have many nutritional benefits. They contain phosphorus, manganese, calcium and healthy omega 3 fats.

The seeds to do not need to be milled or ground in order to be eaten in order for a person to access the variety of health benefits that chia seeds have to offer. You want to ensure that you are buying a good quality grade of chia seeds, so you should choose white or black seeds and avoid red seeds which are immature seeds. There is not much taste in the seeds so they won’t influence the flavour of the food that you consume. This makes it extremely easy to add them into your meals or sprinkle them over the salad, on your toast or in smoothies that you blend up. Here are the top 10 health benefits of eating chia seeds:

10. Chia seeds are an excellent source of protein.

If you are a vegetarian, you can get in your daily protein with these seeds without adding unwanted cholesterol. A single 28 gram serving of chia seeds contains around 10 per cent of your daily protein value – around 4.4 grams!

9. You can feel full faster.

Chia seeds contain Tryptophan which is the same amino acid that is contained in turkey. Many people blame Tryptophan for the need to have a nap after they eat a huge Thanksgiving meal, but it is a great supplement that helps you to sleep better, decrease your appetite and boost your mood.

8. Increase your fibre.

Many of the items that people should eat to increase their fibre are just not that appetizing. A 28 gram serving of chia seeds adds a whopping 11 grams of dietary fibre to your meal which is a third of the recommended daily fibre intake for adults. Fibre is essential for your digestive health.
Chia seeds in water.

7. Helps to improve your heart’s health.

Chia seeds can improve blood pressure in diabetics and can lower bad cholesterol while increasing healthy cholesterol. This is all good for your heart.

6. Improve bone strength and have stronger teeth.

Just one serving of chia seeds contains around 18 per cent of your recommended daily calcium intake. This is a great way to maintain oral health and bone health and avoid osteoporosis.
Chia seeds plant.

5. Get your phosphorus intake.

Chia seeds contain 27 per cent of your daily value of phosphorus which helps you to maintain healthy teeth and bones. Phosphorus is used by your boy to synthesize protein for use in tissue and cell repair and growth.

4. Get your Manganese.

This nutrient is not well known, but it is important for good health. It helps your body to use essential nutrients including thiamin and biotin and it is great for your bones. A 28 gram serving of chia seeds contains 30 per cent of your recommended intake of manganese.

3. Fight Diabetes naturally.

Studies are currently underway that show Chia as a potential natural treatment for type 2 diabetes since it can slow down digestion substantially. Chia seeds develop a gelatinous coating when they are exposed to liquids which prevents spikes in blood sugar.

2. Get your recommended Omega 3 intake!

Chia seeds have around five grams of omega-3 fatty acids in a one ounce serving. These seeds are better utilized by the body because it seems to be able to better convert the omega 3s into plasma than flax seed.

1. Combat belly fat.

Chia stabilizes blood sugar and helps to combat insulin resistance which is directly responsible for increased belly fat. When your body is insulin resistant, it is bad for your health, so you can help to reverse that by eating chia seeds.